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TUS Programme

rsole1

MOD NOTE - Updated 24/02/2014
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Hi Had a letter from Social Protection inviting me to participate on a TUS Programme. I have done an internet search and there seems to be very little "chatter" about it from people who have been on it, does anyone have any experience of it? I know how much it pays and a broad idea of what type of jobs etc, but would like some first hand experience from people in the know. Sounds a bit like a CE Scheme.

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Arquinsiel

myshirt wrote: »

Treehorn2077, I don't see the issue?

You are long term unemployed, the state have been paying you during that period, you haven't found a job unfortunately, and here is an opportunity for you.

There is no scam. No one out to get you.

I disagree, but I suspect explaining the specifics will be frowned upon by the powers that be.

Treehorn2077 wrote: »

Out of curousity Arquinsiel, what did they say when you refused to sign up? You mentioned interviews you had coming up, did they see that as a proper reason not to stop your payments? I ask because if I get a job between now and when/if I start this scheme, I'm taking it.

I literally haven't heard a thing. Zero contact of any form.

myshirt wrote: »

You won't be working for €1 an hour. You will be working for €10.40 an hour (208/20 = €10.40).

Your maths is off.

[Deleted User]

toadettee wrote: »

Damned if you do and damned if you don't seems to be the problem with these schemes. I have been on it 6 months and my supervisor is more than accommodating. But I found a job on job bridge I would prefer and there's no way on this planet the department of social protection is going to let me get off tus. So I have to see my year out in a job I'm gaining nothing from, to go back on the live register in January with a cut social welfare payment now I have drawn attention to myself. I had my reservations about these schemes from the start but of course was threatened with cutting off my dole payment if I ticked no. Before this I went back to college for 4 years rather than do nothing and worked part time the whole duration. I just wish there was someone I could speak to in the department who even cared. Again can't fault the tus supervisors in my experience they do a great job, their hands are tied.

Are you sure about that? If I was you, I'd go speak to social protection again.

toadettee

MouseTail wrote: »

Are you sure about this? I would find that very strange.

I am 100% positive. It's not strange cos they don't care about people, they only care about their statistics. My supervisors are trying to find loopholes but there doesn't seem to be any.

MouseTail

toadettee wrote: »

But I found a job on job bridge I would prefer and there's no way on this planet the department of social protection is going to let me get off tus.

Are you sure about this? I would find that very strange.

Xenji

Treehorn2077 wrote: »

Wow, thats quite a statement to be told from day 1 you aren't going to be hired or kept on after your time is up. No wonder some people were miserable, I'd be pissed off too. This is exactly what I was saying about being exploited, after 1 year you get dumped for another. No chance of a job, no chance of promotion, or decent wage... will someone please tell me how someone is supposed to be thankful for that suitation?

Can I ask what you got of it? Were you kept on?

What course options were you told about, this is something I would be interested in?

I'm aware its 19.5 hours a week, that's half a working week they expect you to do for free, hardly what I'd call fair pay. Not much of an incentive to go looking for part time work either if it has to be less than 19.5 hours, seeing as they will adjust your JA down. If I find a job while I'm on TUS they can shove their scheme up their arse, and I'll be more than happy to tell them that.

Try getting an internship with any government agency or council and not even being told there is no hope of a job at the end of it, I know people know about the moratorium but quite a few I have mentored have not even heard about it.

toadettee

Damned if you do and damned if you don't seems to be the problem with these schemes. I have been on it 6 months and my supervisor is more than accommodating. But I found a job on job bridge I would prefer and there's no way on this planet the department of social protection is going to let me get off tus. So I have to see my year out in a job I'm gaining nothing from, to go back on the live register in January with a cut social welfare payment now I have drawn attention to myself. I had my reservations about these schemes from the start but of course was threatened with cutting off my dole payment if I ticked no. Before this I went back to college for 4 years rather than do nothing and worked part time the whole duration. I just wish there was someone I could speak to in the department who even cared. Again can't fault the tus supervisors in my experience they do a great job, their hands are tied.

Treehorn2077

Valid excuses are pretty thin on the ground and one that the social welfare would actually understand as valid is even more rare. So far it seems like what could be on offer seems to hold very little interest to me, but it remains to be seen what I'm offered.

I'd prefer to be told striaght out too, at least that way I'd feel less duped into thinking that I may be kept on afterwards. Although I'll be sure to ask myself in my interview, exactly what my chances are of being kept on.

Thats good to know about courses, I'll be sure to keep that in mind, thanks!

@MouseTail:
I see that its just like an iternship, only with half the hours and money, but still the same threat of having your JA cut off if you refuse to take up the position, which may or may not be suitable (thats still a gamble). The only thing I can see getting any value out of it is the company that will be getting free labour.

Finding a job would be great, and truthfully nothing would give me more satisfaction telling them to stick their slave position where the sun doesn't shine.

MouseTail

Treehorn2077 wrote: »

Wow, thats quite a statement to be told from day 1 you aren't going to be hired or kept on after your time is up. No wonder some people were miserable, I'd be pissed off too. This is exactly what I was saying about being exploited, after 1 year you get dumped for another. No chance of a job, no chance of promotion, or decent wage... will someone please tell me how someone is supposed to be thankful for that suitation?

Can I ask what you got of it? Were you kept on?

What course options were you told about, this is something I would be interested in?

I'm aware its 19.5 hours a week, that's half a working week they expect you to do for free, hardly what I'd call fair pay. Not much of an incentive to go looking for part time work either if it has to be less than 19.5 hours, seeing as they will adjust your JA down. If I find a job while I'm on TUS they can shove their scheme up their arse, and I'll be more than happy to tell them that.

I don't think you understand the TUS scheme. You are placed with a community group, you are not displacing a job, but rather adding value. There is no chance of it becoming a paid job.

I think you are confusing it with jobbridge which is an internship. TUS is not an internship. Jobbridge is for those who are 'job-ready' whereas TUS and Gateway are for people who are long term unemployed and therefore might be in need of a skills update, recent reference, and the introduction of structure.

You can research courses yourself here http://onestepup.ie/
If you find a job either before or during your TUS placement, that would be great. No need to tell anyone to shove the scheme anywhere.

Pixie326

Treehorn2077 wrote: »

Wow, thats quite a statement to be told from day 1 you aren't going to be hired or kept on after your time is up. No wonder some people were miserable, I'd be pissed off too. This is exactly what I was saying about being exploited, after 1 year you get dumped for another. No chance of a job, no chance of promotion, or decent wage... will someone please tell me how someone is supposed to be thankful for that suitation?

Can I ask what you got of it? Were you kept on?

What course options were you told about, this is something I would be interested in?

I'm aware its 19.5 hours a week, that's half a working week they expect you to do for free, hardly what I'd call fair pay. Not much of an incentive to go looking for part time work either if it has to be less than 19.5 hours, seeing as they will adjust your JA down. If I find a job while I'm on TUS they can shove their scheme up their arse, and I'll be more than happy to tell them that.

No one said you should be thankful for it lol If you don't want to do it then don't just come up with the good enough excuse to get out of it and keep your dole instead of putting yourself through it when you have zero interest

Some people are glad of the routine and experience and like I said I know people who got decent jobs out of it some directly for the place they did they placement with and others outside through people they met

I actually prefer to know up front there was no chance of a job at the end of it it's an incentive to find something yourself so you don't slip back into old habits

There's a bunch of different courses you can do that aren't available on FAS or Intreo or whatever they call it now or you can find your own course and request funding for it which is what I did

If you can't get full time work right now part time work is a bit more money for you and you still having the safety net of your few hours under tus and I was told part time work does not effect your JSA or JSB if it's under 19.5 hours

Treehorn2077

Wow, thats quite a statement to be told from day 1 you aren't going to be hired or kept on after your time is up. No wonder some people were miserable, I'd be pissed off too. This is exactly what I was saying about being exploited, after 1 year you get dumped for another. No chance of a job, no chance of promotion, or decent wage... will someone please tell me how someone is supposed to be thankful for that suitation?

Can I ask what you got of it? Were you kept on?

What course options were you told about, this is something I would be interested in?

I'm aware its 19.5 hours a week, that's half a working week they expect you to do for free, hardly what I'd call fair pay. Not much of an incentive to go looking for part time work either if it has to be less than 19.5 hours, seeing as they will adjust your JA down. If I find a job while I'm on TUS they can shove their scheme up their arse, and I'll be more than happy to tell them that.

Pixie326

Treehorn2077 wrote: »

Firstly thanks to those who replied to my questions, much appreciated.

Out of curousity Arquinsiel, what did they say when you refused to sign up? You mentioned interviews you had coming up, did they see that as a proper reason not to stop your payments? I ask because if I get a job between now and when/if I start this scheme, I'm taking it.

@Myshirt:
I'm well aware I was picked at random and that "no one is out to get me", paranoia is not something I suffer from. My issue however is being forced into doing 20 hours a week of free labour, for little over 1 euro an hour, under threat of having my JA cut if I refuse. Don't get me wrong I'd take a decent paid job right now if it was offered, but realistically my chances of getting anything permanent from this scheme seem pretty slim. Quite simply, why would any employer hire me at minimum wage when he can dump me after my 12 months are up and replace me with another person fresh on the scheme? Business isn't my strong point, but I know all about saving money and cutting costs.

@fiestywonder
Your discription of people on the dole as those "who sit around all day watching TV" is both naive and offensive. I've faced that same judgemental and narrowminded point of view from people when I was first made unemployed. Things like "you must be so bored" or "how do you fill the time" really annoy me. Sure there are those who choose to sit on their arse all day, but I'M NOT ONE OF THEM! The fact is I've been filling my time as much as I can, I'm out of the house most of the day, rarely watch TV, and have been attending various courses since I started on the dole. It's how you choose to use your time on the dole that matters, I chose to use it wisely. Prehaps you wouldn't have lost your dignity if you didn't sit around all day watching tv and acutally did something with your time.

@Pixie326
thanks for the input Pixie. Can I ask, what kind of placements did they offer you?
It may have been that those you found doing the minimum and complaining, may have got a worse job than you. I'd imagine not all involved are going to be placed where they'ed like to be.
It's been my experience lately that work experience counts for **** on your CV, as most of the time they never bother to read them. I have the skills and experience, but when an unpaid intern is filling that position for nothing, why would an employer pay to hire me? All the experience in the world can't match free labour.
You sound quite fortunate in your placement, I hope I'll be as lucky.

First off all of us do the exact same job and all get treated the same the ones who complain insist on coping an attitude and not get to know people or include themselves in outside work things and that's fine if they aren't interested but it looks to me like they are making themselves miserable for no real reason

And I understand some people in other placements have legitimate complaints I'm sure but where I am they don't , we get treated same as everyone else who works there full time and are always included in things

I'll be honest the choice of jobs isn't great I'm over qualified for my job ( that's what the manager told me) but they do try and combine things you like with what your good at as best they can

When I did my interview last November the ones I remember go from admin , community clean up projects , Manual handling , server/ cooking in community center , sales in charity shops. library , sports centers organizing or teaching different sports and then they had some jobs in places like dspca and other organizations like that too

I was told from day 1 in my place that there was no chance of getting the job I am doing right now they only keep you on for a year so I understand what your saying most places will be the same and won't hire you when they get freebies on the other hand in the business next door they hired one of the people who was on the Tus placement in my place in their business based on seeing her work here

5 of the 6 people got jobs the 6th one retired

I never looked at like free labor because I get something out of it

I was also told of course options I could do for free while doing Tus ( but you have to ask the right people)

I decided to do one since the opportunity came up

Everyone knows it's not ideal and that the employers gain the most but I also think there's as much possibility for us to gain from it too

I feel like I did get lucky with it and if your made to do it as well I hope you get something you like and can get something out of it

good luck

I'm not sure if anyone has talked about it here but it is only 19.5 hours a week and while your on the placement your welcome to find your own part time work as well but can not go over 19.5 hours

Treehorn2077

@myshirt:
I'd much rather take a fulltime job with proper pay than remain on 208euros a week. I was referring to the extra 20euros the scheme pays, when I said its 1 euro an hour. If I were to look at it your way, I'm already on 10euro an hour right now.

The fact of the matter is, I have no issue at all with going on the scheme, IF there is a very real possibility of a well paid FULL TIME job arising out of it. But having known people on similar internships, one of who was fired a week before her term was up, after working just as hard as everyone else in the company, I can't help but feel slightly disillusioned. Interns can and WILL be replaced at the cost of a regular paid position, which means more people, myself included will continue to be exploited on schemes like this one.

@fiestywonder
I'm not comfortable on the dole, who is? I'm able to function on it because I have no choice, no more than I have a choice to accept this offer that they gave me.

[Deleted User]

whatever works for you treehorn, if you are comfortable remaining on the dole then stay there and let someone more deserving take the scheme. Good luck

Treehorn2077

I would like to know what exactly about being on the dole killed your confidence? How did losing a job, through no fault of your own as you put it, rob you of your confidence or self worth?

Your phrase "receiving the dole for nothing" is also offensive. The dole is anything but recieved for nothing. The dole is a result of all the tax you, I and everyone else has paid in over the years they were/are working, and will continue to pay in the future. It's far from some form of handout to be seen as "unearned". I have earned my dole, and will continue to do so when I'm back in the workforce through the raft of taxes that you, I and everyone else will pay out of their pay cheque.

I personally think your issues with confidence and self worth are more to do with your personality than your employment status. Prehaps seeking some medical advice may help those issues.

I too have heard that expression, "excluded from life" and personally I think it's complete and utter bul****. One thing the dole has given me is more time, whether I liked it or not, and I've spent that time wisely and used it to live more of my life and persue the things I wanted to do, alebit on a skeletal budget. Being on the dole opens up more doors than one might imagine, courses become available, some activities are subsidised or even free for unemployed, that would otherwise be unavailable to someone working a regular job. You have to seek these doors out and have the courage to walk through them.

I never lost an ounce of confidence, dignity or self worth while being unemployed. In fact it was quite the opposite, I'm now more educated, confident, and savvy than I was before I became unemployed. My circle of friends and contacts has increased immensly and continues to do so, if anything I'm more involved in life now than I was when I was working.

dodzy

Treehorn2077 wrote: »

Firstly thanks to those who replied to my questions, much appreciated.

Out of curousity Arquinsiel, what did they say when you refused to sign up? You mentioned interviews you had coming up, did they see that as a proper reason not to stop your payments? I ask because if I get a job between now and when/if I start this scheme, I'm taking it.

And you will be right to do so. That is what the people involved with the administration of the programme ultimately want for those who take part, and, as was the case with Feisty, the placement was treated as a positive step. This is the right attitude and a trait that will serve others well. There have been many who have approached the placement optimistically, put in the effort, and reaped the reward by securing either part of full time work.

On the flip-side, there are of course people who feel that this is slave labour and who are ultimately forced to work for 1€/hr. People who refer to there social welfare payment as a wage. It takes all sorts.

C'est la vie.

myshirt

Treehorn2077

You won't be working for €1 an hour. You will be working for €10.40 an hour (208/20 = €10.40). That is very good money when despite searching morning, noon, and night 7 days a week for over a year, you couldn't find a job. It's a great opportunity in that respect, and secure for 12 months. I say grab it.

Secondly, no one is forcing you. This is not Nazi Germany. If you get a job elsewhere, you can leave Tus. Though my advice would be to stay on, given the state helped you with this job, and also were there for you with money for over a year while you had no job. It's a social utility type thing if you like, giving back to the community.

But if you got a job elsewhere, that'd be great. You wouldn't be shackled to Tus.

[Deleted User]

Treehorn2077 wrote: »

Firstly thanks to those who replied to my questions, much appreciated.

@fiestywonder
Your discription of people on the dole as those "who sit around all day watching TV" is both naive and offensive. I've faced that same judgemental and narrowminded point of view from people when I was first made unemployed. Things like "you must be so bored" or "how do you fill the time" really annoy me. Sure there are those who choose to sit on their arse all day, but I'M NOT ONE OF THEM! The fact is I've been filling my time as much as I can, I'm out of the house most of the day, rarely watch TV, and have been attending various courses since I started on the dole. It's how you choose to use your time on the dole that matters, I chose to use it wisely. Prehaps you wouldn't have lost your dignity if you didn't sit around all day watching tv and acutally did something with your time.

.

for a start I have NEVER EVER judged, looked down on, condescended etc etc on anyone on the dole. If you look back on any of my posts you will see this. I was on the dole long enough for it to absolutely kill my confidence and it took me an awful long time to get that back.

I was extremely depressed and had zero self worth. The point that you are taking up wrong is I was defending the use of the word "DIGNITY" (which you found fault with) in regards to being placed on a tus scheme - where I didn't have to continue on receiving the dole for nothing and that I don not apologise for stating that it gave me my dignity back. As I said I am not defined by my position but by my use of time. I never generalised about other people welfare watching TV all day,I didn't want it for me. I said I did not want my son, at an impressionable time of his life, to see that I had no work ethic - because it was through no fault of my own that I was made redundant.

I jumped at the chance to take this placement and only saw the positives. I would never judge anyone - I was there long enough. I once heard a man on TV say that people on the dole are "excluded from life" - That's how I felt for too long
Tus may seem like forced labour to you, but it was a stepping stone to getting my confidence and DIGNITY back for me

Treehorn2077

Firstly thanks to those who replied to my questions, much appreciated.

Out of curousity Arquinsiel, what did they say when you refused to sign up? You mentioned interviews you had coming up, did they see that as a proper reason not to stop your payments? I ask because if I get a job between now and when/if I start this scheme, I'm taking it.

@Myshirt:
I'm well aware I was picked at random and that "no one is out to get me", paranoia is not something I suffer from. My issue however is being forced into doing 20 hours a week of free labour, for little over 1 euro an hour, under threat of having my JA cut if I refuse. Don't get me wrong I'd take a decent paid job right now if it was offered, but realistically my chances of getting anything permanent from this scheme seem pretty slim. Quite simply, why would any employer hire me at minimum wage when he can dump me after my 12 months are up and replace me with another person fresh on the scheme? Business isn't my strong point, but I know all about saving money and cutting costs.

@fiestywonder
Your discription of people on the dole as those "who sit around all day watching TV" is both naive and offensive. I've faced that same judgemental and narrowminded point of view from people when I was first made unemployed. Things like "you must be so bored" or "how do you fill the time" really annoy me. Sure there are those who choose to sit on their arse all day, but I'M NOT ONE OF THEM! The fact is I've been filling my time as much as I can, I'm out of the house most of the day, rarely watch TV, and have been attending various courses since I started on the dole. It's how you choose to use your time on the dole that matters, I chose to use it wisely. Prehaps you wouldn't have lost your dignity if you didn't sit around all day watching tv and acutally did something with your time.

@Pixie326
thanks for the input Pixie. Can I ask, what kind of placements did they offer you?
It may have been that those you found doing the minimum and complaining, may have got a worse job than you. I'd imagine not all involved are going to be placed where they'ed like to be.
It's been my experience lately that work experience counts for **** on your CV, as most of the time they never bother to read them. I have the skills and experience, but when an unpaid intern is filling that position for nothing, why would an employer pay to hire me? All the experience in the world can't match free labour.
You sound quite fortunate in your placement, I hope I'll be as lucky.

Pixie326

I'm currently on a Tus placement and thought I'd share my experience

Firstly I got the letter asking me to sign up for it back in September 2013 and had an Interview in November explaining TUS and then spent 30 minutes with the interviewer going over the types of jobs they had available

I was also told by the interviewer that if your offered 3 jobs and take none of them then you will be considered unable to work and your money will be cut ( I only mention this because I didn't see it anywhere else in the thread)

I got contacted in January from my Tus Leader ( person who finds your placement) offering me a placement and I refused to take it

I was contacted again in February and offered something more suitable so I took it and started a week later

There are other people on TUS working here and the majority of them had positive experiences and are happy to have been asked to participate but there are some of them show up and do the minimum and complain the whole time about how it's slave labor like others on the thread have

I think it's all about the attitude you go in with

It's work experience and something too add to your CV if nothing else and it's only 12 months so if you end up back where you started there's no harm done

5 of the last 6 people in the same placement as me have gone on to get full time jobs through the placement and contacts they made while they worked here and I have heard stories similar in some other placements

I've never been treated badly or anything like that and the majority of people who work here made an effort to get to know me and to get me involved in work outings and activities

This is just my experience I know not everyone has had a good experience with them and maybe it's just the luck of the draw where you get placed and how your experience will be but I'm enjoying mine and I'm glad to be doing it

dodzy

Deleted User wrote: »

I was able to work with no constraints and I wanted him to see that, instead of having him view me as a person who sits on the couch watching TV all day. That might be ok for other people but not for me.

An unfortunate reality, I'm afraid.

[Deleted User]

Totally agree, I felt a lot better being on the dole when I was actually doing something to earn it.

And as for the "dignity" issue addressed by Treehorn - When I said that it gave me my dignity back, I meant it in terms of how my teenage son sees me, nothing to do with my job, I am not defined by that, but I do define myself by how I utilise my time.

I was able to work with no constraints and I wanted him to see that, instead of having him view me as a person who sits on the couch watching TV all day. That might be ok for other people but not for me.

myshirt

Treehorn2077, I don't see the issue?

You are long term unemployed, the state have been paying you during that period, you haven't found a job unfortunately, and here is an opportunity for you.

There is no scam. No one out to get you.

Arquinsiel

Treehorn2077 wrote: »

I got a letter today from the social welfare "asking" if I'd be interested in going on a TUS scheme, seeing as I'd never heard of it before I did some research, which lead me here. Been reading some of the comments and posts by people who have been on it and there are quite a lot of mixed results, that I can see.

A few things did strike me as I read through the comments some people posted. Firstly some people seem to think that losing their job and being on the dole is some kind of social stigma, and go on to say how wonderful it is to get their "dignity" back. Since when did losing a job rob you of your dignity? I for one have no problem with my dignity or self confidence or anything of that nature and I'm just as unemployed as these people. It really says a lot about their view of themselves in society if all they measure a person by is the job they hold.

The second thing I noticed, and I'm not alone in pointing this out, is the number of glowing reviews of TUS placements by some people on here. Now before I get accused of anything, I'd like to point out that I've no doubt that some people are genuine in their positive experiences of TUS and their posts here. However, I do feel like some of "glowing" reviews are just a tad too good to be true, and feel a little fake to me.
Almost as if someone under the employ of a certain Government Department or youth wing of a certain party were writing them under the guise of a partisipant.

I personally feel this is another cynical scam, just like job-bridge, albeit with 30 euros less than that each week. A source of unlimited free labour for companies, to exploit the unemployed into filling, under threat of getting their money cut off. It remains to be seen however how my own suitation will pan out. Obviously I have to accept this "offer" if I am to keep my JA payment, my concern is that I will be put into a suitation where I will get nothing out of this, in terms of training, experience, etc. And simply find myself right back where I started 12 months from now.

I do have a few questions for Galway based people who were on the TUS scheme:

1) What range of jobs were you offered?
2) Were they mostly city or rural based? I ask because I have to rely on public transport
3) Was your experience positive or negative?
4) Did you have any issues signing back onto JA afterwards?

Thanks in advance for your help

I got my letter a couple of months back, found this thread, googled around a bit, checked the relevant laws and decided that I'd just write back and politely decline to sign up citing multiple interviews and the like I had coming up that month. I can quote chapter and verse of why they can't make me if it became necessary to do so, but so far I haven't heard a peep, and my Jobseeker's Allowance hasn't been cut, so I haven't had to go kick up a fuss. Your mileage may vary, attempt at your own risk, I am not a qualified legal professional etc etc.

Treehorn2077

I got a letter today from the social welfare "asking" if I'd be interested in going on a TUS scheme, seeing as I'd never heard of it before I did some research, which lead me here. Been reading some of the comments and posts by people who have been on it and there are quite a lot of mixed results, that I can see.

A few things did strike me as I read through the comments some people posted. Firstly some people seem to think that losing their job and being on the dole is some kind of social stigma, and go on to say how wonderful it is to get their "dignity" back. Since when did losing a job rob you of your dignity? I for one have no problem with my dignity or self confidence or anything of that nature and I'm just as unemployed as these people. It really says a lot about their view of themselves in society if all they measure a person by is the job they hold.

The second thing I noticed, and I'm not alone in pointing this out, is the number of glowing reviews of TUS placements by some people on here. Now before I get accused of anything, I'd like to point out that I've no doubt that some people are genuine in their positive experiences of TUS and their posts here. However, I do feel like some of "glowing" reviews are just a tad too good to be true, and feel a little fake to me.
Almost as if someone under the employ of a certain Government Department or youth wing of a certain party were writing them under the guise of a partisipant.

I personally feel this is another cynical scam, just like job-bridge, albeit with 30 euros less than that each week. A source of unlimited free labour for companies, to exploit the unemployed into filling, under threat of getting their money cut off. It remains to be seen however how my own suitation will pan out. Obviously I have to accept this "offer" if I am to keep my JA payment, my concern is that I will be put into a suitation where I will get nothing out of this, in terms of training, experience, etc. And simply find myself right back where I started 12 months from now.

I do have a few questions for Galway based people who were on the TUS scheme:

1) What range of jobs were you offered?
2) Were they mostly city or rural based? I ask because I have to rely on public transport
3) Was your experience positive or negative?
4) Did you have any issues signing back onto JA afterwards?

Thanks in advance for your help

Rainbow_Bright

Hello,

I got letters "inviting" me to apply for Tus & Gateway programmes. Lots of info in this thread but I'm curious about the schemes as someone on here said that they're very different. How? Is one better than the other? Do I have to apply for both or can I just choose one? Both 19.5 hrs so that's grand but I'd like to know more as both citizens advice and SW sites are quite generic . I'd like real info from people who've been there! I'd like to get back to work so this could b perfect for me and the gap on my cv.

Thanks

cee_jay

I have deleted quite a few trolling posts - if you have an issue with a post, report it. Please do not rise to the trolls

[Deleted User]

rsole1 wrote: »

What is your job, and how much is the salary?

I am working in a social needs capacity and my salary is my business. I started Tus in May 2013 after being severely depressed about having no job, not to mention self worth. I was offered this placement, grabbed it with both hands and give it 100%, I even volunteered for various projects under its subsidiary. I loved the position and was dreading having to finish back in may of this year, so I was delighted to be offered a position. It was part time at first and now its full time.

I'm quite upset that I am accused of being from Tus just because I praised the scheme, look back over all my posts regarding this thread and you will see that I was a genuine tus employee

jos22

Static_Jak wrote: »

So do we have 4 weeks holidays in total?

And do we just let our employer know or do we have to get in contact with TUS when we take any holidays?

you get 10. 5 days I think. which if taken all together = 1 month off

You should have a time-sheet that you fill out and get your employer to sign.

on that sheet then you just mark off holidays and your employer will sign it. then just hand in the time sheets to your Tus supervisor at some stage. I often wait till I have a month worth of sheets before dropping them back

Static_Jak

So do we have 4 weeks holidays in total?

And do we just let our employer know or do we have to get in contact with TUS when we take any holidays?

fgob

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I have a criminal record and they cleared me